[November Tests 2017 EOYT] England vs. Australia (18/11/2017)

[TommiG88]

I'd say so many fans under estimate him. Bet his coaches, team mates and opponents don't.

I was implying that, hence why he's been nominated for player of the year again

 

[Nudger]

I was implying that, hence why he's been nominated for player of the year again

If I'm standing at inside centre I know who I want inside me

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If I'm standing at inside centre I know who I want inside me

 

[Nudger]

Haha

 

[WilkosLeftBoot]

Yup, and I believe all his England caps have been on the wing.
However he's never played there other than at international level (think he might have gotten a bit of time there from the bench early on in his wasps days).
I've said it a hundred times before on here buy his wing play is poor. He's an incredibly talented player so it's not as noticeable, but his positioning, touchline defence and finishing are not at international standard. They're still good, don't get me wrong, but not really top drawer. Think EJ originally put him on the wing because we didn't have much going on the left wing and had an established 13 in Joseph, and now he's just going with it because it's working. I think 11. May, 13. Daly could be better than 11. Daly, 13. Joseph

Didn't he start at 13 in the win vs South Africa last year? Or am I just imagining that...?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Didn't he start at 13 in the win vs South Africa last year? Or am I just imagining that...?

Apparently so!
Hopefully, with May fit and in fine form, he remembers that game!

 

[Icemn]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA brilliant

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Best coach in World Rugby versus Eddie Jones?

As suggested above, the Wallabies don't have the pack to compete against England if England play any better than poor.

 

[Pom in Exile]

Best coach in World Rugby versus Eddie Jones?

As suggested above, the Wallabies don't have the pack to compete against England if England play any better than poor.

Do you rate Chieka then? Eddie's had him on toast so far in their match ups and I would have thought that Hansen and Schmidt might have something to say about that too.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Cheika is the best whinger in the game. He's tried the mind games too and failed miserably each time.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Do you rate Chieka then? Eddie's had him on toast so far in their match ups and I would have thought that Hansen and Schmidt might have something to say about that too.

I had my tongue in cheek there, but only a little. I do think he is squeezing more out of his available resources than the others named above. I think I do rate him above the others currently, with Jones a close second.

Schmidt has taken too long to select quality attacking wingers so I query his historical squad selections a bit (best tactician though).

 

[Pom in Exile]

I had my tongue in cheek there, but only a little. I do think he is squeezing more out of his available resources than the others named above. I think I do rate him above the others currently, with Jones a close second.

Schmidt has taken too long to select quality attacking wingers so I query his historical squad selections a bit (best tactician though).

Oh fair enough sorry. I've obviously been living in Oz for too long, they're very literal over here.
Funnily enough Chieka isn't held in much regard by most Aussie rugby fans.

 

[BenJeffrey]

England Squad vs Aus

15 - Watson
14 - May
13 - Joseph
12 - Farrell
11 - Daly
10 - Ford
9 - Youngs

1 - Vunipola
2 - Hartley (C)
3 - Cole
4 - Launchbury
5 - Lawes
6 - Robshaw
7 - Underhill
8 - Hughes

16 - George
17 - Marler
18 - Williams
19 - Itoje
20 - Simmonds
21 - Care
22 - Slade
23 - Rokoduguni

 

[TommiG88]

I'm surprised with no Itoje starting! More resting.

 

[MikeTheNative]

I surprised they kept mostly the same pack after last week (bar Launchbury coming in). Being back to the usual 10,12,13 combo should help them in behind though.

 

[curtbob7]

Surprised Itoje is on the bench. Still a little miffed Marler has jumped back in ahead of Genge but hey ho he can play with us and smash up Sale at the weekend.

 

[Scotty]

I think its resting itoje/ havinģ the impact from the bench. Launchbury will be solid and will do the job all day long.

Back 5 ending
Itoje
Lawes
Underhill
Simmonds
Hughes

Looks good to me.

Slade on the bench. Needs to get over his nerves and calm down to play the way he does for the chiefs. Will it end ford faz slade or faz slade JJ. Or more rest for farrel and be ford slade JJ. Ford faz Slade i have my doubts about that. But do see slade as a 13 rather than a 12. Curious to see what EJ picks and how it goes

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Looks a lot more potent back line. Reservations about Daly on the wing notwithstanding there can't have been many quicker back 3s than this. Let's hope we play to their strengths and actually put them in some space.

This is the big game, against a team in decent nick. It has the look of our strongest available side, so Itoje being on the bench feels more like a form pick.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Decent enough, considering injuries and resting players.
Hopefully we can keep our win streak over Aus going

 

[Pom in Exile]

There's some serious wheels in that backline, but not a lot of heft.